A Malaysian-Philippine film collaboration hopes to pitch itself to success at this year’s Southeast Asian Film Financing Forum (SAFF), which runs concurrently with the Singapore Media Festival.
Nadira Ilana, an independent filmmaker from Sabah, Malaysia has partnered with Pamela Reyes from the Philippines to produce “Wilderness”, a coming-of-age story and a modern interpretation of a Dusun myth.
Reyes is also the producer of the critically-claimed film, “Birdshot”. The said film is the official entry of the Philippines to the 90th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
“Wilderness”, which is supported by Berlinale Talents, the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual Association (SAAVA), in association with Telan Bulan Films, Create Cinema, and M’GO Films, will be competing in ScreenSingapore’s SAFF and Project Market. This program is aimed at providing producers and filmmakers in the Southeast Asian region with opportunities to get their film projects supported, picked up by investors, and to stimulate collaborations between local and international players.
Ilana’s first-ever feature film is inspired by Dusun-Borneo mythology set in her hometown of Kota Kinabalu. The Dusun people form the largest ethnic group in Sabah.
In a Facebook post, Reyes expressed excitement over the event and further mentioned flying to Australia to participate in the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards where “Birdshot” is nominated for Best Asian Film. Competitors include the famed Korean thriller, “Train to Busan”.
The SAFF pitch is scheduled on November 28, 2017, Tuesday.
